raineachreads's reviews
44 reviews

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Pip William’s debut novel, ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ has stayed with me since I read it and remains one of the stand out books for me over the past few years. Therefore I started this book with a good deal of trepidation of whether it would live up to a similar standard. I shouldn’t have feared as William’s manages once more to create a powerful novel that had me laugh, cry, empathise and learn too of the history of women of whom we are never formally taught. 

‘The Bookbinder of Jericho’ tells the story of twins, Peggy and Maude. Both women have occupations of book binding in Oxford while living in a canal barge. Peggy, who is the main protagonist dreams of stepping over from the ‘town’ to the ‘gown’ and becoming a student but due to social class, conditioning and lack of formal education knows this is simply a dream. Maude (my favourite character) experiences the world in a more black and white manner and is written very much as being autistic (as an autistic reader I really appreciated this and felt Williams did an excellent job especially with her inclusion of echolalia which she showed is not simply meaningless). As the First World War enters their lives on the home front both discover that life can change in surprising ways both for good and for bad and just how often the circumstances we find ourselves in are what really influence our lives. Like the books they bind so much of our individual lives are bound up by the people and things behind the scenes that are never seen. Williams shines a light on these aspects. 

I really could write so much about this book as I absolutely loved it. However what really stood out for me alongside the character development was the deeper themes that ran alongside the plot. Williams is clearly a great observer of people and of life. She shows that life is not a fairy tale but is gritty, harsh, filled with hopes and dreams, despair and trauma and that all of these things matter and accumulate to create the person. 

This really was such a fantastic book and one that I know I will return to over and over again. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a brilliant, cosy summer read. The characters were lovable and I found myself rooting for the protagonist from the beginning right up until the final page.

Clover is 36 years old and works as a death doula, that is someone who is there providing emotional and practical support for someone at the end of their lives. While she collects the regrets of others in notebooks, she rarely stops to examine her own life and to tackle what she may personally one day regret. With very few friends and no family still living she has become stuck in an isolated bubble that she can’t easily find a way out of. That is until a new neighbour and a particular client comes along.

I really enjoyed reading this. It had just the right amount of predictability to be a comforting read with the reassurance all would be well and yet enough twists and turns until the final page too. A brilliant debut novel. 

The Way of the Hermit: My 40 Years of Solitude Living Off the Grid by Ken Smith

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book was a breath of fresh air to read. Ken Smith is authentic, honest, funny and has led a fascinating life living ‘off-grid’ in the Scottish Highlands. Now in his 70s this book explores his life so far (he plans to live to 102 so hopefully on day there might be a sequel!) charting his adventures in a childhood in Derby, walking adventures in Canada and spending time wandering around Scotland before building his home and life at the side of Loch Treig. 

Written in a conversational style this book is filled with wisdom, humour and plenty of good stories. I felt a bit like I was sitting next to the fire listening to Ken himself speak with the pine martens, birds and a hooded crow just outside. A book that makes you stop and reflect about your own relationship with the natural world and want to go after and follow your own dreams, wherever they may lead. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The National Trust Book of Nature Poems: Treasured Classics and New Favourites by Deborah Alma, National Trust Books

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5

This is a really beautiful treasury of nature poems. Spanning from across the centuries with well known poets including Heaney, Bronte, Shakespeare, Plath, Burns and Tennyson to many newer poets I hadn’t yet heard of this really is a perfect example of how to put together an anthology well. 

I found with the way the poems had been selected and put together was well suited for a book to dip in and out of (which I tend to think is the best way to read poetry anyway). While the selections are categorised by themes each one was worth reading in its own right making this very adaptable for different reading preferences. Not only are the poems brilliant but I loved the artwork dotted throughout too. 

Definitely a great book for anyone who loves poetry or nature! 

Nature's Wonders: Moments That Mark the Seasons (National Trust) by Jane V. Adams, National Trust Books

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.75

Some of my favourite books growing up were the Ladybird book series of ‘What to Look for in Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter’. This book reminded me of those as it has a similar feel and could very much be seen as the adult version with photographs rather than illustrations. Going through each of the series starting with Spring, the book documents different changes that take place and what to spot. Whether it be a particular animal, bird, plant, insect or sensory change there is much variety to be found in the pages. Normally in these books I found the photographs drown out the writing, however that was not the case here. Adams writes quite poetically at times and makes the natural world come to life. Each page was jam packed full of information with links being drawn between different seasonal changes and the effect this has on all living things. The photographs too are stunning and really showed how beautiful nature is, even some parts of it we might not normally think of. A real gem of a book!

The Good, the Bad and the History by Jodi Taylor

adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If there is a book series that makes me laugh, loose sleep as I can’t put it down and wish I could jump through the pages to join in more than St. Mary’s I have yet to find it! If there is a fictional duo who I want to be best friends with more than Max and Markham I’ve yet to find them either! 

Once again Jodi Taylor writes a book that is the perfect mix of history, humour and fast paced plot. Markham and Max speed up and down the timeline trying to stay out of trouble and inevitably finding it, normally landing in it head first. From China to Egypt, past to future can they save the day or have they taken a risk too far this time? 

At this point quite honestly if Jodi Taylor was to write a plant catalogue I would read it! She makes writing look effortless and peppers her books with Easter eggs, funny one liners and so many little details that I never get fed up of reading them. 

The best book of 2023 so far! 

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

One of the best autism books I’ve read in a very long time. This is a book for autistic people (though I’m sure it would also be useful for those who have an autistic or neurodiverse person in their life too) all about masking. Price provides a book that is not just validating of autistic people’s experiences but also provides really helpful guidance on looking at how to stop masking and move away from shame and guilt about being autistic to embracing it proudly. I liked the way the book was written as it was clear, concise and informative but also gave plenty of information on where to go next and find more resources. The author did an excellent job of breaking down stereotypes and incorporating a variety of experiences to show just how diverse a community we make up. The exercises were really useful too. It was nice to see something that moved away from CBT models (which often doesn’t work well with people who are neurodiverse) and instead look at Value Based Integration (a practice I hadn’t come across before but will definitely be exploring further). A book I will be returning to again in the future! 

How to Deal with Angry People: 10 Strategies for Facing Anger at Home, at Work and in the Street by Dr. Ryan Martin

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

This is an informative and comprehensive book all about what makes us angry, how people can act their anger out and how best to respond to others anger. Ranging from angry parents to work colleagues, online exchanges to family get together through a mixture of case studies and general information a lot is covered. While it may be a heavy topic Martin writes in a conversational style making his points easy to understand and apply to everyday life. Having read this I definitely feel I’ve learned some methods to apply to everyday life when thinking about how to respond to other people’s anger. 

Making a Home: Assisted Living in the Community for Young Disabled People by Jen Powley

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

‘Making a Home’ is a book exploring the author’s idea, struggles and determination to create an alternative home for young disabled people who were finding themselves having to live in care homes for elderly people. Jen Powley, who herself has Multiple Sclerosis, explores the current reality of many young disabled people in Canada (the main focus is Nova Scotia) who end up in nursing homes. She looks at how there are better solutions out there that provide dignity and allow people to live their lives how they want to

on their own terms. She herself creates a home that uses a shared attendant service where people can live together in a flatshare type situation. This is far from straight forward though and she shares with the reader the obstacles along the way to make this happen. 

I was really interested to read this book as someone who has had to consider going into a care/nursing home due to disability despite being young. While not living in Canada the number of similarities of the obstacles of getting care and support to live the life you want is very similar. Her solution was very thought provoking as it does make you stop and wonder if this was to be replicated what a difference it could make. I found it particularly interesting to read, bureaucracy aside, of some of the challenges of adjusting from institutional living to a home again and also having to change from someone who employs others to also the role of a housemate.

A brilliant book for those involved in disability activism and rights, social and care work and also for disabled people too, to give hope that there are alternative solutions out there that hopefully will become possible everywhere. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0